Steering mechanism for a marine propulsion unit



June 30, 19,70 F. T. IRGENS 3,517,634

STEERING MECHANISM FOR A MARINE PROPULSON UIT Original Filred May 19, 1967 70 4a l 72 4Z; 7/ 72 United States Patent O 3,517,634 STEERING MECHANISM FOR A MARINE PROPULSION UNIT Finn T. Irgens, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Outboard Marine Corporation, Waukegan, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 639,813, May 19,

1967. This application Mar. 6, 1969, Ser. No. 805,049 Int. Cl. B63h 21/26, 25/06 U.S. Cl. 114-172 18 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion unit steering mechanism which is connected to a steeringA wheel by a cable or two ropes. The steering mechanism includes a slide connected to the marine propulsion unit by a ball and socket joint and a slide support rod which extends through the slide and which is pivotally mounted to the boat hull by a ball and socket joint. The slide includes two levers which are located Within a slide cavity and which have apertures for receiving the slide support rod. The apertures are slightly largerin diameter than the slide support rod and are spring biased to an angular clamping position on the rod in the absence of movement of the cable. Movement of the cable caused by movement of a steering control member changes the angular position of the levers with respect to the rod and affords relative movement therebetween.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 639,813 filed May 19, 1967, now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a steering mechanism for use with a steerable marine propulsion unit, such as an outboard motor or stern-drive unit. In one embodiment the steering mechanism utilizes a push-pull cable or Bowden wire with one end connected to a steering control member or steering Wheel and the other end connected to a slide which is movable over a slide support rod. The slide support rod is connected to the inside of the hull adjacent the stern by a ball and socket joint. The slide is connected to the marine propulsion device by a ball and socket coupling or joint which pivots the marine propulsion unit or device about its steering axis as the slide moves along the support rod responsive to movement of the cable by the steering wheel.

To retard or minimize movement of the marine propulsion device about its steering axis caused by -play or slack in the steering assembly and to prevent movement or backlash in the absence of manipulation of the steering wheel, the slide is provided with two levers which are located within the slide and which lock the slide on the slide support rod and oppose movement of the slide on the support rod in the absence of torque on the steering wheel or in the absence of a force exerted by a steering control member. The rod extends through apertures in each of the levers, the apertures having a slightly larger diameter than the rod to provide clearance between the lever apertures and the rod when the levers approach a perpendicular relation with respect to the rod. Each lever atords a uni-directional restraint against movement of the slide. The levers are spring biased to an angular position somewhat less than 90 with respect to the rod thus clamping the aperture walls of the levers on the rod and securing the slide against movement. As force is exerted by the steering control member and thus, the connecting cable exerts a pulling force on the slide, the lever restrain- Patented June 30, 1970 ing movement of the slide in the direction of the pulling force is pivoted about its fulcrum, thus changing the angle of the lever with respect to the rod. This removes the clamping engagement of the aperture wall on the rod and permits movement of the slide over the rod and movement of the marine propulsion device about its steering axis. When movement of the steering wheel ceases, the lever will return to a clamping engagement on the rod and secure the marine propulsion unit against backlash or reverse rotation of the steering wheel.

In a modified embodiment of the invention, rope steering is utilized rather than a push-pull cable and the ends of the rope are connected t0 eyes located on opposed sides of the slide.

The ball and socket joints connecting the support rod to the hull and connecting the slide to the marine propulsion unitv also afford forward tilting of the marine propulsion unit to withdraw the lower unit from the water for servicing, or to clear obstructions, etc.

Further objects and advantages of the inveniton will become apparent from the following drawings and accompanying description.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a steering mechanism which is in accordance with the invention, and which iS shown connected to a marine propulsion device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the steering mechanism shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a modified embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a steering mechanism which is generally designated 10 and which is shown installed in a boat hull 12 and connected to a dirigibly supported marine propulsion unit 14, which can be an outboard motor or a stern-drive unit. The steering mechanism 10 includes a slide which is generally designated 16 and which has opposed side walls 17 defining a cavity 18. Means for connecting the slide to the marine propulsion unit are provided in the form of a ball and socket joint 20 located on the top of the slide 16.

Means for supporting the slide 16 in the boat hull 12 are provided in the form of a slide support rod 22 which extends generally horizontally and transversely to the longitudinal dimension of boat hull 12. The rod 22 is pivotally or universally mounted to the inside of the hull 12 on the gunwale 24 by a ball and socket coupling or joint 26. The ball joint 26 and rod 22 afford movement of the ball and socket joint 20 in an arc concentric with the steering axis 28 of the marine propulsion unit 14 as the marine propulsion unit pivots about its steering axis in response to steering Wheel movement as herein after described in detail.

The ball joint 26 and rod 22 also permit forward tilting of the marine propulsion unit into the hull to clear obstructions, service the lower unit, etc. When the marine propulsion unit is tilted forwardly, rod 22 is angularly displaced downwardly toward the bottom of the hull. Thus, as used herein, the term universally pivotally mounted refers to mounting for pivotal movement about two axes at right angles to each other to accommodate steering and tilting movement of the propulsion unit.

In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the means connecting the slide 16 to a conventional steering Wheel or steering control member (not shown) comprises a line or Bowden Wire or push-pull cable 30 which travels in a cable sheath or cover 32. The cable sheath 32 is secured to the rod 22 by a clamp 34. Such mounting of the cable sheath to the rod 22 affords movement of the cable with rod 22 as the marine propulsion unit 14 pivots about its axes, thus maintaining the cable 30 in substantially parallel relation to rod 22 thereby avoiding kinks in the cable 30.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for retarding movement of the slide on the rod or locking the slide to the rod in the absence of a force exerted by the steering control member or tension on cable 30 caused by movement of the associated steering wheel. In the disclosed construction such means includes a pair of levers 36 and 38 in converging allochiral relation and located within the cavity 18 of the slide 16. The levers 36 and 38 each have an outturned portion 40, an elongated portion 42, an oblique portion 44, and a parallel portion 46. The outturned portions 40 of each lever are in abutting relation and are located between a pair of opposed shoulders 48 in notch 50, The levers 36 and 38 have apertures 52 which are defined by aperture walls 53. The apertures 52 are slightly larger in diameter than the rod 22 which telescopically extends through the apertures 52. The levers 36 and 38 also have apertures 54 at the juncture between the elongated potrion 42 and the oblique portion 44.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the means connecting the slide to the steering wheel includes a boss or cable clamp 56 which is movable through an aperture 58 in the slide wall 17. The clamp 56 is also connected to a shank 60 which spans cavity 18 and extends through openings 57 in the levers 36 and 38 and is connected t0 a boss 62 which is secured to shank 60 by a nut 61 integral with the boss, the boss 62 being movable through an aperture 64 in slide wall 17. A lock nut 63 secures the boss 62 on the shank 60. As shown in FIG. 2, the bosses 56, 62 are spaced a slight distance from the levers 36, 38 in the absence of a force being exerted by the steering control member.

Means for biasing the levers to clamping positions against the rod 22 are provided. In the disclosed construction, such means includes a spring 66 which is arranged around the ends 68 of bolts 70 and 71 which extend through apertures 72 in the slide wall 17. The spring 66 is compressible by a slight force. Alternate biasing means can include two separate springs located outside the side wall 17 and arranged around the bolts 70, 71 between the bolt heads 74 and the wall 17. The bolt heads 74 are spaced from the slide 16 as shown in FIG. 2 when the slide is at rest. Two sepa-rate springs could be utilized in the slide cavity 18 arranged around the bolt ends and separated by an `abutment or partition. Leaf springs or ngers located Within the cavity could -be used to afford the necessary biasing. The spring 66 biases the parallel portions 46 of the levers 36 and 38 outwardly away from each other to maintain the elongated portions 42 of the leveds in a clamping position to the rod 22. The position of clamping engagement of the levers is in effect in the absence of a force exerted by the steering control member.

In operation of the steering mechanism of the invention, turning of the steering ywheel or a force exerted by the steering control member, and the movement of the cable 30 to the left or toward the ball joint 26 will result in boss 56 and boss 62 sliding in respective apertures 58 and 64 in the slide wall 17. Such relative movement between the cable and the slide wall 17 will continue until the head 74 of the bolt 71 engages the slide wall 17 (as shown to the right in FIG. 4), stopping further movement. During movement of the boss 62 through slide wall 17, the lever 38 is displaced or pivoted about its engagement with the shoulder 48 which serves as a fulcrum. The displacement of the lever 38 is caused by pressure of face 49 of boss 62 on the lever 38. As shown in FIG. 4, such movement changes the angle between the lever 38 and the rod 22 to an angle closer to 90. This change in angle affords clearance of rod 22 through aperture 52 in lever 38, thus removing the clamping engagement of the lever 38 on the rod 22. When the clamping engagement of the lever 38 is released and the head 74 of the bolt 71 is in engagement with the slide wall 17, continued movement of thesteering wheel and movement of the cable 30 pulls the slide along the rod 22. Application of force on the slide from the bolt head 74 of bolt 71 and from the slide to the end 40 of the lever 36 through the adjacent end 40 of the lever 38 serves to afford release of frictional restraint between the rod 22 and the lever 36. The positions of clearance of the levers with respect to the rod 22 is in effect in response to the presence of a force exerted by the steering control member. When movement of the steering wheel is discontinued, the spring 66 will bias the levers 36 and 38 to the position shown in FIG. 2 with the aperture walls 53 of the levers returning to clamping engagement with the rod 22.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, rope steering is utilized rather than the cable 30 with a rope 76 connected to eyes 78 on opposed bosses 79 which extend through apertures 58 and 64 in the slide wall 17.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A steering mechanism for a marine propulsion device supported for dirigible movement on a boat hull, said mechanism comprising a rod having means for universally pivotally mounting said rod to a boat hull with said rod extending lengthwise in a generally horizontal disposition and in transverse relation to the longitudinal dimension of the boat hull, a slide mounted on said rod for movement lengthwise of said rod, means on said slide adapted -for connecting said slide to a marine propulsion device for dirigible movement of the device in response to slide movement, means on said slide adapted for connecting said slide to a steering control member for moving said slide on said rod, and means on said slide for retarding movement of said slide on said rod in the absence of a force exerted on said slide by the steering control member.

2. A steering mechanism for a marine propulsion device having a steering axis, said mechanism including a slide, means on said slide adapted for connection to a marine propulsion device for movement of the device about its steering axis, means for supporting said slide on a boat hull, said means affording movement of said slide in a path generally transverse to the direction of movement of the boat hull, means for connecting said slide to a steering control member, means on said slide for retarding movement of said slide in the absence of a force exerted on said slide by a steering control member, said means on said slide for retarding movement comprising a cavity within said slide defined by opposed slide Walls, a pair of levers in said cavity, said levers being in converging allochiral relation, apertures in said levers, said apertures having walls and saidy rod extelnding through said apertures, means for mounting said levers in said cavity for movement of said levers between positions of clamping engagement of said aperture walls on said rod and positions of clearance of said aperture walls with respect to said rod, said positions of clamping engagement being in effect in the absence of a force exerted by said control member and said positions of clearance being in effect in response to the presence of a force exerted by said control member.

3. A steering mechanism in accordance with claim 2 including means biasing said levers toward said positions of clamping engagement on said rod.

4. A steering mechanism in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means -for mounting said levers for movement between positions of clamping engagement and positions of clearance with respect to said rod comprises openings in each of said levers, first and second aligned apertures in said slide walls, said rst apertures telescopically receiving said rod, a pair of bosses movable through said second apertures, one of said bosses being connected to a steering control member, and a shank connecting said bosses, said shank extending through said openings in said levers.

5. A steering mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein said slide cavity has two opposed shoulders, and wherein said levers have one end engaging said shoulders and wherein said means biasing said levers toward said positions of clamping engagement includes apertures in the other ends of said levers, bolt apertures in said slide walls, and bolts extending through said bolt apertures, said bolts having heads spaced from said slide walls when said levers are in said positions of clamping engagement on said rod, and a spring located between the other ends of said levers and biasing said other ends of said levers away from each other.

6. A steering mechanism in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for connecting said slide to a steering control member comprises a push-pull cable connected to said slide and a sheath containing said cable and secured to said rod.

7. A steering mechanism in accordance with claim 4 wherein said means lfor connecting said slide to a steering control member comprises lines connected to said bosses and to a steering wheel.

8. A steering mechanism for a marine propulsion device supported for dirigible movement on a boat hull, said mechanism comprising a rod having means for universally pivotally mounting said rod to a boat hull with said rod extending lengthwise in a generally horizontal disposition and in transverse relation to the longitudinal dimension of the boat hull, a slide mounted on said rod for movement lengthwise of said rod, means on said slide adapted for connecting said slide to a marine propulsion device for dirigible movement of the device in response to slide movement, and means on said slide adapted for connecting said slide to a steering control member for moving said slide on said rod.

9. A steering arrangement comprising a rod having means for universally pivotally mounting said rod to a boat hull with said rod extending lengthwise in a generally horizontal disposition and in transverse relation to the longitudinal dimension of said boat hull, a slide mounted on said rod for movement lengthwise of said rod, a marine propulsion device adapted to be supported for dirigible movement on a boat hull, means on said slide connecting said slide to said marine propulsion device for effecting dirigible movement of said device in response to slide movement when said rod and said device are mounted on a boat hull as aforesaid, and means on said slide adapted for connecting said slide to a steering control member for moving said slide on said rod.

10. A steering arrangement comprising a rod having means for universally pivotally mounting said rod to a boat hull with said rod extending lengthwise in a generally horizontal disposition and in transverse relation to the longitudinal dimension of said boat hull, a slide mounted on said rod for movement lengthwise of said rod, a marine propulsion device adapted to be supported for dirigible movement on a boat hull, means on said slide connecting said slide to said marine propulsion device for effecting dirigible movement of said device in response to slide movement when said rod and said device are mounted on a boat hull as aforesaid, means on said slide adapted for connecting said slide to a steering control member for moving said slide on said rod, and means on said slide for retarding movement of said slide on said rod in the absence of a force exerted on said slide Iby the steering control member.

=11. A steering mechanism in accordance with claim 9 wherein said -means for connecting said slide to a steering control member comprises a push-pull cable connected to said slide and a sheath containing said cable and secured to said rod.

12. A boat steering arrangement comprising a boat hull, a marine propulsion device supported for dirigible movement on said boat hull, va rod, means for universally pivotally mounting said rod to said boat hull with said rod extending lengthwise in a generally horizontal disposition and in transverse relation to the longitudinal dimension of said boat hull, a slide mounted on said rod for movement lengthwise of said rod, means on said slide for connecting said slide to said marine propulsion device for dirigible movement of said marine propulsion device in response to slide movement, and means on said slide for connecting said slide to a steering control member for moving said slide on said rod.

13. A steering arrangement in accordance with claim 12 including means on said slide for retarding movement of said slide on said rod in the absence of a force exerted on said slide by a steering control member.

14. A steering arrangement in accordance with claim 12 wherein said means for connecting said slide to a steering control member comprises a push-pull cable connected to said slide and a sheath containing said cable and secured to said rod.

15. A boat steering arrangement comprising a boat hull, a marine propulsion device supported for dirigible movement on said boat hull, a rod, means for universally pivotally mounting said rod to said boat hull with said rod extending lengthwise in a generally horizontal disposition and in transverse relation to the longitudinal dimension of said boat hull, a slide mounted on said rod for movement lengthwise of said rod, means on said slide for connecting said slide to said marine propulsion device for dirigible movement of said marine propulsion device in response to slide movement, a steering control member movably mounted on said boat remote from said slide and means on said slide for connecting said slide to said steering control member for moving said slide on said rod.

16. A steering arrangement in accordance with claim 15 including means on said slide for retarding movement of said slide on said rod in the absence of a force exerted on said slide by said steering control member.

17. A steering arrangement in accordance with claim 15 wherein said means for connecting said slide to said steering control member comprises a push-pull cable connected to said slide and to said control member and a sheath containing said cable and secured to said rod.

18. A boat steering arrangement comprising a boat hull, a marine propulsion device dirigibly supported on said boat hull, a rod having means for pivotally mounting one end only of said rod on said boat hull with said rod extending lengthwise in a generally horizontal disposition and in transverse relation to the longitudinal dimension of said boat hull, a slide mounted on said rod for movement lengthwise of said rod and having walls defining a cavity, a lever in said cavity and having an annular wall deiining an aperture receiving said rod, means for mountting said lever in said cavity for movement of said lever between a position of clamping engagement of said aperture wall on said rod and a position of clearance of said aperture wall with respect to said rod, said position of clamping engagement being in eiect in the absence of a force exerted -by a steering control member connected to said slide and said position of clearance being in efr'ect in response to the presence of a force exerted by the steering control member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,700,358 1/1955 Johnson 11S-18 2,875,722 3/1959 Post 115--18 2,959,982 ll/ 1960 CadWallader 74-5 3 1 3,207,117 9/1965 Nolen 115-18 FOREIGN PATENTS 65 3,078 11/1962 Canada.

ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner 

